possess no unfavorable qualities, no trace of an unpleasant reputation, even during their early adulthood, they were spoken of highly. Maimonides read , “men of power,” also to imply that they should have a courageous heart to save the oppressed from the oppressor, as reports, “And Moses arose and delivered them.” Maimonides taught that just as Moses was humble, so, too, every judge should be humble. continues “God-fearing,” which is clear. mentions “men who hate profit,” which Maimonides took to refer to people who do not become overly concerned even about their own money; they do not pursue the accumulation of money, for anyone who is overly concerned about wealth will ultimately be overcome by want. continues “men of truth,” which Maimonides took to refer to people who pursue justice because of their own inclination; they love truth, hate crime, and flee from all forms of crookedness. Deuteronomy chapter 2 Reading God's instruction in that the Israelites should buy food, Abraham ibn Ezra commented that this would be only if the Edomites wanted to sell. Ibn Ezra noted that some view as asking a question, for Israel had no need for food and drink (having had manna daily). Even though in , God told Moses to "begin to possess" the land of Sihon, nonetheless in , Moses "sent messengers . . . to Sihon." Rashi explained that even though God had not commanded Moses to call to Sihon in peace, Moses learned to do so from what God did when God first was about to give the Torah to Israel. God first took the Torah to Esau and Ishmael, although it was clear to God that they would not accept it, because God wished to begin with them in peace. Nachmanides disagreed, concluding that Moses sent messengers to Sihon before God instructed Moses to go to war with Sihon. In modern interpretation The parashah is discussed in these modern sources: Deuteronomy chapter 1 In , Moses reported that God had multiplied the Israelites until they were then as numerous as the stars. In , God promised that Abraham's descendants would be as numerous as the stars of heaven. And in , God promised that Abraham's descendants would be as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sands on the seashore. The astronomer Carl Sagan reported that there are more stars in the universe than sands on all the beaches